Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-14
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.


hoftsnsy Returns Tor August-FAvorabls
Reports.
DR.. Gerard g. Tyrrell, Permanent Sec
rotary of the State Board of Health, in his
report for August makes the following re-
marks relative to the health of the State
and prevailing diseases
Mortality returns have been received
from si4ty-eight towns and cities, exclusive
OF San Francisco, which, for some I'M
accountable reason, has failed to forward
any report this month. The population
estimated in the returns received numbers
362, 500, and the deaths reported are 372,
percentage of fraction over l per thou
sand in the month. which is the lowest
death record that has been tabulate6 in
this State.
II reports of prevailing diseases are to be
taken as fair evidence of the sanitary
condition of State, then California must
be considered just now as probably the
freest from disease of any State in the
Union. Nearly one hundred different To-
cslities have been heard from, comprising
towns and cities in every county, and not
one announces that any serious disease is
prevailing, the general tenor of the reports
being, No sickness in August" We find
that of those sporadic diseases which are
lnseparable from food, clothing and tenn
perature, cholera infantum, diarrhpa and
dysentery are the most frequently men
toned. In no locality are either of them
epidemic.
There is no doubt that the vast majority
of these cases of diarrhea ard dysen-
terry are preventable, and occur only
through the carelessness and irregu-
larity In living of those attacked. During
the summer in California vegetables and
fruit are so abundant, and obtained with
such ease. that they are consumed without
any reference to the effect upon the system
or the time OF consumption. We have
seen parties making quite meal upon Gu
cumbers, plums and peaches just before
going to bed, with resultant diarrhpa that
was really choleraic Figs are a constant
source OF diarrhBa, and grapes, in certain
conditions OF the system, are very fire.
quentiy an exciting cause. AS sanitary
knowledge is diffused among the people,
those induced attacks of sickness will be-
come more rare, and the mortality returns
be considerably lessened
Scarlet fever is present in San Bernardino,
Lodi, Fresno, and limited number of
cases in Sacramento. The type is not at
tended by any severe symptoms, and in
many instances has passed away without
notice being taken of it.
Diphtheria has been observed in spo-
radio form in Millville, Sacramento. Oak
land, Healdsburg, Fall River Valley, Am
ador, also in the Vicinity of Hanford, and
in San Francisco. In the latter city sixty
| one cases were reported during the month
of August. The type of the disease in the
interior counties was of mild character,
with little or no tendency to spread. This
was In great measure owing to the san
itary precautions taken to insure the isola-
ton of those attacked, and to destroy or
thoroughly disinfect all articles in contact
with the patient. This is much more readily
accomplished in smaller cities and towns
than in densely populated centers where
the crowded condition of the tenements
render IT almost impossible to thoroughly
isolate those infected.
Group exhibits the same mortality as
diDhtheria. and may be looked upon as
substantially the same disease. One death
occurred in Amador, one in Fresno, one in
Healdsburg, two in Salinas one in Soledad
and one in Watsonville. The concurrence
in the belief of the identity of membranous
Group and diphtheria would tend to insure
precaution against infection, and perhaps
prevent the intercourse between the sick
and the well, which is now so prevalent.
AT all events it would certainly stop the
foolish practice of kissing the croupy child,
If one knew that thereby diphtheria might
be engendered in its most malignant form.
Smallpox still fingers about San Fran
CISCO, six cases being reported during the
month OF August. The efficient manner
in which Health Officer DR.. J. L. Meares is
performing his duty in vaccinating and re-
vacclnatlng those susceptible to the disease
IS well shown in the limitation of the af-
lection in so large population, and should
efectually silence those who deny the pro-
tective power of vaccine virus. DR.. favne
reports case of varioloid in Berkeley,
which was Immediately conveyed to the
Oakland Smallpox Hospital, and the place
OF its occurrence thoroughly disinfected
No other case has since appeared.
Typhoid fever is noticed more frequently
IN our reports during the month. This was
TO be expected, as with the subsistence of
the ground water, the probability of the
development CT typhoid and other fevers is
increased. 1t has appeared in Los Angeles,
Salinas, North Bloomfield, Nicolaus, Sac
ramento, Santa Rosa, Oakland, San Fran
cisco. Tehachapi, San Diego, Calistoga,
Fresno, Bakersfield, Igo and Amador.
DR.. w. A. Brown, writing from Downey,
reports one case of thermal fever, which
occurred on the 4th of August in the per-
son of railroad employee, who was
obliged to load cars with bars of iron di-
rectly exposed to the rays of the sun. He,
however, under judicious treatment re-
covered. This is the only case of heat ex-
haustion reported to this office during the
season, which, contrasted with the num-
bers Frustrated by heat throughout the
Eastern States, shows in a remarkable
manner the great salubrity of our climate,
and itg adsnfaht1ify IN tho w olforo &c +l,a